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Everything in your home has a shelf life. Sometimes the shelf life is determined by how long it remains in working condition. Other times it is determined by the changing styles or technology. It can be difficult to determine which components should be upgraded to improve the value of your home or to improve energy efficiency. Old plumbing can also negatively affect the comfort levels in your home. Your water heater might be working intermittently which means you can not take your time in the shower or have a nice long bath. These old components can also make a lot of noise as they experience wear and tear. If your pipes are old then you might experience frequent leaks which can lead to costly water damage. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Granbury, TX would like to inform you about the different upgrades you can do to your system to improve your home’s value as well as increase the comfort you experience in your home. Some of these upgrades make use of the latest plumbing technology to increase energy efficiency as well.

Greywater Systems

You might have heard about a greywater system from your eco-friendly friends or colleagues but what exactly is a greywater system? This system collects water that has not come into contact with human waste and stores it in a container. Some greywater systems will remove the chemicals from the water and others do not. Once the system has collected the water, it can be used for other things like filling up the toilets or in your irrigation system. You will be recycling the water instead of wasting the slightly dirty water and using fresh clean water. If the system cleans the water then you can also reuse that water for showering, bathing, washing the dishes, and washing the clothes. Since you are not constantly using more clean water, you will be able to save a lot of money on your water bill since you are using a lot less water. If you live in an area that has water restrictions then this system will be a great addition to your home as you do not have to worry about exceeding the water cut-off. You should consult with your plumber to determine which type of greywater system would suit your home and needs. If you have a septic tank system then it will benefit from the greywater system since it will not have to work extremely hard to carry out its responsibilities. There are many components to a greywater system and it has to be connected to the correct systems so that it can work effectively. If you are interested in the eco-friendly system then contact your plumber for more information as well as have your plumber install the system for you.

Smart Water Heaters

Technology has advanced in many different fields and the plumbing field is no exception. We have realized that water is a precious commodity and that if we do not make smarter decisions regarding water then future generations will run into a lot of problems. We should also be aware of our energy consumption so that we do not use more than we need. This can be achieved by installing a smart water heater. These heaters have more advanced technology that allows them to use less energy but still produce the same results. The smart water heaters come with additional functions that traditional water heaters do not have. The first feature that they have is a smart thermostat. This thermostat allows homeowners to control the temperature that they want. They will be able to decrease the temperature in the summer and increase the temperature in the winter. Another great feature is the programs that notify the homeowner when there is a problem with the water heater. Sometimes the program will also inform the homeowner how to fix it or if a plumber is required to repair the system. There are also programs that monitor the water usage in your home so that they can predict how much water should be heated. This will decrease your energy costs. These smart water heaters do not have tanks so you will never worry about running out of hot water. These plumbing technologies are very new and sometimes it can be difficult to find the information you need. You can contact your local plumber for more information. They will also be able to install the smart water heater for you.

Smart Toilets

The technology used for toilets has also improved drastically over the years and it might be time for you to invest in a smart toilet. Traditional toilets use a lot of water to flush away human waste. We tend to use clean drinking water to flush which is wasteful. Smart toilets have new features that make them efficient as well as eco friendly. Here are some of the functions of a smart toilet. If you live in a cold area then you might be excited to hear about the seat heating technology that some smart toilets have. Gone are the days of cold chills running up your body as you sit down on the toilet. These toilets can also have built-in bidets that will clean you and spare you the extra cost of buying toilet paper. Smart toilets also have night lights built in so that you can see where you are going without having to turn on the blinding bathroom light, in the middle of the night. These toilets also have sensors that can detect leaks and prevents your toilet from overflowing if there is something wrong. Some of these smart toilets also have automatic flushing technology that will reduce the spread of germs as you do not have to touch the handle. If you want a smart toilet with all these features then you will have to pay a pretty penny. You can do some research or ask your plumber which brands and models have the features that you are looking for. You will also need your plumber to remove the old toilets and install the new smart toilets. Toilets are very heavy and it is recommended that you do not attempt to do the installation yourself. You do not want to break your smart toilet before using it.

Smart Showers

Following the theme of smart plumbing appliances, let’s look at smart showers. Smart showers can be seen as luxury appliances and they are not as common as smart water heaters or smart toilets. Sinc